AAEU threatens protest on airport modernisation

Kolkata, Jul 7: The Airports Authority Employees Union have threatened to begin an ''industrial action'' from the first week of August in all airports if the Centre went ahead with its plan to privatise airports.

A resolution in this regard was adopted after the AAEU's two-day meeting of its central executive committee at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport here that ended yesterday.

''We are not opposing modernisation of airports, we welcome it, '' AAEU all India general Secretary S K Ghosal told newsmen today.

''We want the modernisation to be carried out by the Airports Authority of India But strongly oppose participation by private parties. The AAI has the necessary financial resources, technical knowhow and manpower to carry out the modernisation job,'' he added.

Morever, there was no justification in bringing in private parties when the AAI itself will carry out the modernisation work in 35 airports in the country, he felt.

The union also criticised the Centre for backing out on its commitment to keep the AAEU informed about its modernisation plans and suddenly stopping tripartite meetings. The AAI was also not filling up about 7,000 vacant posts, some very vital concerning safety and public service and not addressing employees' grievances relating to to promotion and pension.

UNI

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